2.1. Supported Hardware

Debian does not impose hardware requirements beyond the requirements
of the Linux kernel and the GNU tool-sets. Therefore, any
architecture or platform to which the Linux kernel, libc,
gcc, etc. have been ported, and for which a Debian
port exists, can run Debian. Please refer to the Ports pages at
http://www.debian.org/ports/arm/ for
more details on ARM architecture systems which have been
tested with Debian.

Rather than attempting to describe all the different hardware
configurations which are supported for ARM, this section
contains general information and pointers to where additional
information can be found.

2.1.1. Supported Architectures

Debian 3.1 supports eleven major architectures and several
variations of each architecture known as “flavors”.

Architecture

Debian Designation

Subarchitecture

Flavor

Intel x86-based

i386

vanilla

speakup

linux26

Motorola 680x0

m68k

Atari

atari

Amiga

amiga

68k Macintosh

mac

VME

bvme6000

mvme147

mvme16x

DEC Alpha

alpha

Sun SPARC

sparc

sun4cdm

sun4u

ARM and StrongARM

arm

netwinder

riscpc

shark

lart

IBM/Motorola PowerPC

powerpc

CHRP

chrp

PowerMac

pmac

PReP

prep

APUS

apus

HP PA-RISC

hppa

PA-RISC 1.1

32

PA-RISC 2.0

64

Intel ia64-based

ia64

MIPS (big endian)

mips

SGI Indy/Indigo 2

r4k-ip22

r5k-ip22

Broadcom BCM91250A (SWARM)

sb1-swarm-bn

MIPS (little endian)

mipsel

Cobalt

cobalt

DECstation

r4k-kn04

r3k-kn02

Broadcom BCM91250A (SWARM)

sb1-swarm-bn

IBM S/390

s390

IPL from VM-reader and DASD

generic

IPL from tape

tape

This document covers installation for the
ARM architecture. If you are looking
for information on any of the other Debian-supported architectures
take a look at the
Debian-Ports pages.

2.1.2. CPU, Main Boards, and Video Support

Each distinct ARM architecture requires its own kernel. Because of
this the standard Debian distribution only supports installation on
a number of the most common systems. The Debian userland however may be used by any ARM CPU including xscale.

Most ARM CPUs may be run in either endian mode (big or little). However,
almost every current system implementation uses little-endian mode.
Debian currently only supports little-endian ARM systems.

The commonly supported systems are

Netwinder

This is actually the name for the group of machines
based upon the StrongARM 110 CPU and Intel 21285 Northbridge. It
comprises of machines like: Netwinder (possibly one of the most common ARM
boxes), CATS (also known as the EB110ATX), EBSA 285 and Compaq
personal server (cps, aka skiff).

Bast

This is a modern ARM 920 board with a 266MHz Samsung
processor. It has integrated IDE, USB, Serial, Parallel, audio, video,
flash and two ethernet ports. This system has a good bootloader which
is also found on the CATS and Riscstation systems.

RiscPC

This machine is the oldest supported hardware: it was released
in 1994. It has RISC OS in ROM, Linux can be booted from that OS using
linloader. The RiscPC has a modular CPU card and typically has a 30MHz
610, 40MHz 710 or 233MHz Strongarm 110 CPU fitted. The mainboard has
integrated IDE, SVGA video, parallel port, single serial port, PS/2
keyboard and proprietary mouse port. The proprietary module expansion
bus allows for up to eight expansion cards to be fitted depending on
configuration, several of these modules have Linux drivers.

Riscstation

This is an inexpensive 56MHz 7500FE based machine with
integrated video, IDE, PS/2 keyboard and mouse and two serial
ports. Its lack of processing power was made up for by its price. It
may be found in two configurations one with RISC OS and one with a
simple bootloader.

LART

This is a modular open hardware platform intended to be built
by enthusiasts. To be useful to install Debian it requires its KSB
expansion board.

2.1.3. Graphics Card

Debian's support for graphical interfaces is determined by the
underlying support found in XFree86's X11 system. Most AGP, PCI and
PCIe video cards work under XFree86. Details on supported graphics
buses, cards, monitors, and pointing devices can be found at
http://www.xfree86.org/. Debian 3.1 ships
with XFree86 version 4.3.0.